Golden v. Golden

2013 Ohio 1133

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 22, 2013
• Docket: 2012CA0012
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Golden v. Golden, 2013-Ohio-1133.]

COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DAVID E. GOLDEN : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellant : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. -vs- : : SHERRY LYNN GOLDEN : Case No. 2012CA00122 : Defendant-Appellee : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division, Case No. 2011-DR-00370

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: March 22, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant For Defendant-Appellee

RICHARD L. FOX HERBERT J. MORELLO 122 South Wooster Avenue 700 Courtyard Centre Strasburg, OH 44680 116 Cleveland Avenue, NW Canton, OH 44702 Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 2

Farmer, J.

{¶1} Appellant, David Golden, and appellee, Sherry Lynn Golden, were married

on August 10, 2007. On March 28, 2011, appellant filed a complaint for divorce.

{¶2} Hearings before a magistrate were held on February 16, 2012 and March

9, 2012. By decision filed March 27, 2012, the magistrate recommended a division of

property and a spousal support award to appellee. Appellant filed objections. By

judgment entry filed June 1, 2012, the trial court granted in part and denied in part

appellant's objections, ordering the equal division of the marital portion of appellant's

401K and two outstanding debts.

{¶3} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

I

{¶4} "THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN FINDING THAT THE

DURATION OF MARRIAGE WAS FROM AUGUST 10, 2007 TO FEBRUARY 16, 2012,

A PERIOD OF 54 MONTHS, AS THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE BEFORE THE

COURT WAS THAT THE PARTIES WERE IN ACTUALITY LIVING AND

FUNCTIONING TOGETHER AS A SINGLE ECONOMIC UNIT LESS THAN HALF OF

THAT TIME, AND IN FACT HAVE BEEN LIVING SEPARATE AND APART, BOTH

PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY, SINCE AUGUST 17, 2010. THIS FINDING

IMPACTS THE DIVISION BY THE COURT OF THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT'S 401(K),

AS WELL AS THE SPOUSAL SUPPORT ORDER IMPOSED UPON HIM." Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 3

II

{¶5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN AWARDING THE SUM OF $4,000.00 TO

THE DEFENDANT-APPELLEE FOR HER ALLEGEDLY LOST WEDDING RING AS

THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT AS TO THE LOCATION OF THE WEDDING

RING AND NO EVIDENCE AS TO THE PRESENT VALUE OF THE WEDDING RING

WAS PRESENTED TO THE COURT."

III

{¶6} "THE TRIAL COURT'S FINDING THAT THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT

ENGAGED IN FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT, AND THAT THEREFORE HE WAS NOT

ENTITLED TO ANY SETOFF FOR HIS 401(K) LOAN, IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND CONSTITUTES AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION BY

THE TRIAL COURT."

IV

{¶7} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO MAKE A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING

FOR ALL MARITAL ASSETS AND DEBTS OF THE PARTIES IN THAT IT FAILED TO

ACCOUNT FOR THE TAX REFUNDS RECEIVED BY THE DEFENDANT-APPELLEE,

AND THE TAX OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT."

V

{¶8} "THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN ITS

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPOUSAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION OF THE PLAINTIFF-

APPELLANT AS THERE WAS A TOTAL LACK OF EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE

COURT TO SUPPORT THE FINDING BY THE TRIAL COURT THAT THE PLAINTIFF- Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 4

APPELLANT HAD $4,000.00 NET INCOME AT HIS DISPOSAL FOR SPOUSAL

SUPPORT PURPOSES."

{¶9} Appellant claims the trial court erred in determining the duration of the

marriage because of numerous separations during the marriage and in fact, the parties

had been living separate and apart since August 17, 2010. We disagree.

{¶10} Trial courts possess broad discretion in choosing the termination date of a

marriage for purposes of valuing property. Berish v. Berish, 69 Ohio St.2d 318 (1982).

In order to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was

unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment.

Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217 (1983).

{¶11} The magistrate acknowledged, approved and adopted by the trial court,

that the parties were separated from January 2008 through July 2008, February 2009

through July 2009, and August 2010 to the present. See, Magistrate's March 27, 2012

Decision at Finding of Fact No. 2. Prior to the divorce filing, a domestic violence action

was filed against appellee which was later dismissed. Also, a previous divorce action

was filed by appellant and dismissed.

{¶12} Appellee testified the marriage had been rocky and they had attempted

counseling. March 9, 2012 T. at 6. The first separation in January 2008 was the result

of appellee being arrested for a domestic violence incident. February 16, 2012 T. at 5.

They were separated until July 2008. Id. The second separation occurred after

appellant filed a complaint for divorce in February 2009. Id. They were separated until

July 2009. Id. at 6. The final separation occurred in August 2010. Id. During each Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 5

separation, appellee moved out of the marital residence and the parties paid their own

living expenses. March 9, 2012 T. at 26-28. The action sub judice was filed seven

months after the last separation. Id. at 45.

{¶13} The fact that the parties separated and reunited on two separate

occasions and dismissed a prior divorce action lends credence to the trial court's

decision to take the date of the final hearing as the marriage termination date.

{¶14} Given the parties' history, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion

on this issue.

{¶15} Assignment of Error I is denied.

{¶16} Appellant claims the trial court erred in ordering him to pay appellee

$4,000.00 for her lost wedding ring. We disagree.

{¶17} A reviewing court must not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court

where there exists some competent and credible evidence supporting the judgment

rendered by the trial court. Myers v. Garson, 66 Ohio St.3d 610, 1993-Ohio-9. The

weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are issues for the

trier of fact. State v. Jamison, 49 Ohio St.3d 182 (1990). The trier of fact "has the best

opportunity to view the demeanor, attitude, and credibility of each witness, something

that does not translate well on the written page." Davis v. Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415,

418, 1997-Ohio-260.

{¶18} In his decision filed March 27, 2012, the magistrate found the following at

Finding of Fact Nos. 7 and 8, respectively: Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 6

The parties dispute the possession of Defendant's $4,000 wedding

ring: Plaintiff says Defendant took it, while Defendant states the ring was

left in the marital residence and was missing when she returned.

The Court finds that the ring was left by Defendant, due to Plaintiff's

past history of refusing to let Defendant remove the ring when a

separation ensued. The Court infers that this resulted in the ring

remaining in possession of Plaintiff.

{¶19} These facts are supported by appellee's testimony. March 9, 2012 T. at

21-22. Appellee stated appellant had paid $4,000.00 for the ring. Id. at 22. Appellant

testified appellee took all of her personal items with her, including her jewelry box.

February 16, 2012 T. at 6-7. He did not have her wedding ring. March 9, 2012 T. at 53.

{¶20} We find the issue is solely one of credibility which lies in the province of

the trier of fact. Upon review, we find sufficient evidence in the record to support the

decision.

{¶21} Assignment of Error II is denied.

{¶22} Appellant claims the trial court erred in determining he was guilty of

financial misconduct in borrowing against his 401(K) during the marriage. We disagree.

{¶23} In his decision filed March 27, 2012 at Conclusion of law No. 3, the

magistrate found, "[t]he taking of the $21,000 loan by Plaintiff constitutes financial

misconduct; Plaintiff's explanation of account for the proceeds was both vague and Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 7

unconvincing. The Court is not convinced of the truth of the explanation, and rules that

the $21,000 was dissipated."

{¶24} In support of his argument, appellant cites the case of Mendiola v.

Mendiola, 5th Dist. Nos. 2010 CA 00135 and 2010 CA 00203, 2011-Ohio-1326.

However, in Mendiola, the funds were used to increase the value of the marital property.

We conclude Mendiola is not persuasive.

{¶25} In this case, appellant removed the funds during one of the separation

periods for his own use and purchased a Ford Explorer for his daughter. February 16,

2012 T. at 20. Appellant testified to the following (March 9, 2012 T. at 55):

The loan from your 401-K, what did you use that money for? I used

it to pay rent, to pay utilities, to pay normal everyday household expenses.

I used it to purchase the Ford Explorer for my daughter. Because at that

time Sherry was under a CPO she couldn't come back to the house. We

were separated at that time. I had a single daughter, who was in school,

also worked a part time job, was in sports, in the band, I worked a swing

shift and she needed a way to get to school. To get to her other activities

while I was at work. As a single Father.

{¶26} Appellant retained possession of the vehicle. February 16, 2012 T. at 20-

21. During the separation periods, appellee was responsible for her own living

expenses and appellant was gainfully employed and had no need to use the money for Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 8

living expenses. Id. at 7. The trial court awarded the vehicle to appellant and took the

position that the loan was a purposeful attempt to diminish the value of his 401(K).

{¶27} Upon review, we cannot find the trial court's decision is unfounded and not

based upon the evidence.

{¶28} Assignment of Error III is denied.

{¶29} Appellant claims the trial court erred in not considering the tax

consequences of each party, refunds to appellee and obligations to appellant. We

disagree.

{¶30} Appellee testified when they were living apart, they each filed separate tax

returns. March 9, 2012 T. at 9. Although appellant requested joint filings, appellee

refused because it made no sense to her since they were living apart. Id. at 38.

Appellee received tax refunds from her separate filings. Id. at 39.

{¶31} It is clear from the record that although the parties were married, even

when they were living together, they did not co-mingle their funds. There were no joint

bank accounts. Id. at 12. Appellee provided for her necessities as well as supporting

her child from a previous marriage. Id. at 7-8.

{¶32} Upon review, we conclude the trial court did not err in rejecting an

accounting for the tax refunds and/or obligations.

{¶33} Assignment of Error IV is denied. Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 9

{¶34} Appellant claims the trial court abused its discretion in determining the

amount of spousal support as the trial court erred in finding he had net income of

$4,000.00 per month. We disagree.

{¶35} A trial court has broad discretion in determining a spousal support award.

Neville v. Neville, 99 Ohio St.3d 275, 2003–Ohio–3624; Stevens v. Stevens, 23 Ohio

St.3d 115 (1986); Blakemore.

{¶36} In his decision filed March 27, 2012 at Finding of Fact Nos. 17 and 18, the

magistrate found, the "Plaintiff nets $4,000 per month and has expenses of $2,100 per

month" and "Defendant nets $1,200 per month, plus $350 child support and has

expenses of $1,500 per month."

{¶37} On his financial affidavit filed March 28, 2011, appellant stated his gross

income was $3,700 per month. A stipulation regarding appellant's income was agreed

to at trial (March 9, 2012 T. at 50):

The only objection I have is with respect to Defendant's Exhibit A.

And the only portion of Defendant's Exhibit A that I have an objection to is

the gross income listed for husband. The argument, as I understand it, is

that we want to take income minus taxes and use that to determine an

appropriate alimony obligation. I understand that argument. But the other

argument that we also want, is we want half of the 401-K. Now

$80,749.00 is his Social Security wages. The wages that he had in his Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00122 10

pocket were actually from box 1 of Plaintiff's Exhibit 11, $78,914.48. And

it may be a small argument that I'm making to the Court.

{¶38} As appellant established via Plaintiff's Exhibit 11, after taxes, social

security, and Medicare, he had a net yearly income of $59,185.00 which amounts to a

net monthly income in excess of $4,000.00. Although appellant's income was lower in

2010 (Plaintiff's Exhibit 7), it still exceeded $4,000.00 net per month.

{¶39} Upon review, we find the evidence supports the $4,000.00 net income per

month for appellant.

{¶40} Assignment of Error V is denied.

{¶41} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio,

Family Court Division is hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Hoffman, J. concur.

_______________________________

JUDGES

SGF/sg 308 [Cite as Golden v. Golden, 2013-Ohio-1133.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DAVID E. GOLDEN : : Plaintiff-Appellant : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : SHERRY LYNN GOLDEN : : Defendant-Appellee : CASE NO. 2012CA00122

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio, Family Court Division is

affirmed. Costs to appellant.